Read These Blogs

'Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker' Gave Rose Tico Barely Over A Minute Of Screen Time
Somebody actually counted: Kelly Marie Tran appears in Rise of Skywalker for 1 minute, 16 seconds.

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The Rise of Skywalker writer explains why Kelly Marie Tran had a reduced role
A writer on The Rise of Skywalker is explaining the film's handling of Kelly Marie Tran's Rose Tico, who some say was shortchanged in the new Star Wars film.

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11 Asian American comics who killed it this year — and need to be on your 2020 radar
In 2019, some of our favorite Asian American comedians reached even greater heights and broke down barriers. Here are 11 comics who killed it this year and should be on your 2020 radar.

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The Best Part of Ronny Chieng's Netflix Comedy Special
"But what makes Chieng’s special really worth watching is that it centers a purely Asian perspective. It’s about us, and for us, full stop. Chieng isn’t just a Southeast Asian comic with a huge platform, which would be a victory in itself. He’s a Southeast Asian comic using that platform to explore his identity and make our way of seeing the world relevant, and relatable, to everyone in the room."

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Hasan Minhaj Opened Up About Why He Corrected Ellen's Pronunciation Of His Name
While answering an audience member's question, Patriot Act comedian Hasan Minhaj explains the variations on his name he's used while performing and why he decided to to teach Ellen DeGeneres to say his name properly.

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Denver Filmmaker Explores How Korean Adoptees Felt Like 'Martians' In White America
Glenn Morey, a Korean American adoptee, set out to record his interviews with other transracial adoptees in his project, Side by Side: Out of a South Korean Orphanage and Into the World.

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Breakfast With a Side of Manny Jacinto
This profile basically confirms everything you already love about Manny Jacinto, and more.

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Remembering Apana Chang, legendary detective and the first Chinese policeman in Hawaii:
Apana Chang was the first Chinese police officer in Hawaii, and the inspiration for the fictional detective Charlie Chan who appeared in dozens of bestselling novels and films throughout the 20s, 30s and 40s.

Angry Reader of the Week: Anthony Ocampo

"Everyone's got a different view of what their neighborhood is 'really' like."



Hey, everybody! It is time, once again, to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader -- the final Angry Reader of 2019 -- is Anthony Ocampo.

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 85: They Call Us Destin Daniel Cretton

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.



What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

On this episode, we talk to director Destin Daniel Cretton about his new film Just Mercy, which tells the true story of death row defense attorney and real-life superhero Bryan Stevenson. We also get him to say a few things about an upcoming little Marvel movie called Shang-Chi.

Read These Blogs

How THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Failed Rose Tico
The Rise of Skywalker completely marginalizes Kelly Marie Tran's Rose Tico. "And worse than giving her nothing to do, the film actively undercuts her best traits as a hero."

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Why This Star Wars Actor Is Choosing to Wear All-Asian Designers on the Red Carpet
When Kelly Marie Tran began planning her press tour for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, she felt it was important to celebrate the creativity of fashion designers of Asian descent.

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L.A.'s Asian-American Activist Newspaper from the '70s Is Back in Print
Gidra, first in print from 1969-1975, is has been brought back to life for the modern world.

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Andrew Yang Is Onstage, but Offstage, Asian-Americans Wonder Where They Fit In
The Democrats have a historically diverse field, but entrepreneur Andrew Yang was the lone Asian American candidate debating with six white candidates.

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How ‘Watchmen's' misunderstanding of Vietnam undercuts its vision of racism
Watchmen's handling of the war and its Vietnamese characters reveal a reluctance to grapple with imperialism.

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Asian Americans and Racial Justice: Racial Exclusion and the (Im)Possibilities of Developing Our Identity, Consciousness, and Agency
A collective of Asian American academic activists highlight the need to include Asian Americans in racial justice discourse.

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Why Chinatown's Hop Woo BBQ's Chef Lupe Liang First Printed Menus en Español 26 Years Ago
In order to better serve the surrounding community of Hop Woo, chef Lupe Liang pulled from his own knowledge from living in Mexico.

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LA's Asian Santa Is Back In Little Tokyo
L.A.'s Asian Santa brings a special kind of joy to Little Tokyo.

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Where's the busiest place in Seattle on Christmas? This little Chinese restaurant.
A holiday tradition which stands the test of time.

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Ronny Chieng on Andrew Yang: “There aren't enough Asian people in positions of power" The Daily Show comedian on telling jokes for Americans, the retro feel for his Netflix special, and Baby Yoda.

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Comedian Margaret Cho: 'I Invented The Cancellation'
Margaret Cho talks to NPR as part of an interview series with rule-breaking women in comedy.

Angry Reader of the Week: Bobby Rubio

"Truth, justice and the Asian American way!"



Greetings, good people of the internet! It is time, once again, to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Bobby Rubio.

"Asian glow" could be linked to Alzheimer's, study finds

If you've spent any time partying with Asian kids, you've witnessed it.



Some more bad news for us folks who deal with the "Asian glow," according to a new study... In the presence of alcohol, a defective version of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 gene -- which causes that pesky redness when we drink -- also leads to biochemical changes associated with Alzheimer's disease.

A common mutation in aldehyde dehydrogenase 2, or ALDH2, a key enzyme involved in alcohol metabolism, increases damage in cells from patients with Alzheimer's disease and in mice, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Read These Blogs

Mistrust and the Hunt for Spies Among Chinese Americans
Ties to China doom applicants' security clearances more than to any other country.

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Doughnut shop owner returns after community bought out store every day while she was in a coma
When one of the owners of a Southern California doughnut shop had a brain aneurysm and was in a coma, the small surf town came together to help the business. Now, about a year later, Stella Chhan is back behind the counter at Donut City.

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How 'Crazy Rich Asians' Mirrored My Own Trip to the Altar
Rebecca Sun details how the trailblazing film's cultural themes brought clarity to her own parents' disapproval of the man she was determined to marry.

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The Two Faces of Awkwafina: How the actress got in touch with her dramatic side for The Farewell
The Farewell star Awkwafina is one of EW's 2019 Entertainers of the Year.

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Ronny Chieng talks risky jokes and Netflix special Asian Comedian Destroys America
Don't get on Ronny Chieng's bad side. He will rip you a new one, and he will talk about it on stage.

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Kelly Marie Tran on Rose Tico's enduring Star Wars: The Last Jedi line
Kelly Marie Tran on her iconic line in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and what's in store for Rose Tico in the upcoming sequel.

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The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of MSG
You probably know monosodium glutamate from its link to so-called 'Chinese Restaurant Syndrome' -- and that’s precisely the problem.

Sikh Uber driver strangled in hate crime attack

"This assault is being investigated as a bias incident."


Photo: Sikh Coalition
Last week in Washington state, an Uber passenger was arrested for strangling his Sikh American driver during a ride. The attack is reportedly being investigated as a possible hate crime.

Hate crime charges ‘pending’ after reported strangulation of Bellingham Uber driver

22-year-old Grifin Levi Sayers allegedly attacked his Uber driver -- who is Indian and wears a turban and unshorn hair in observant of his Sikh faith -- in the early morning hours of December 5 in Bellingham.

At the end of the ride, Sayers became verbally and physically abusive against the driver, making racist accusations about his appearance and Indian heritage before grabbing the driver's throat.

Awkwafina nabs Golden Globe nomination for 'The Farewell'

But why is 'The Farewell' nominated for Best Foreign Language Film?



Nominations for the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards were announced this morning, and as many predicted, Lulu Wang's indie hit The Farewell picked up a couple of nods, including a Best Actress nom for Awkwafina.

Golden Globes: Full List of Nominations

The rapper-turned-actress, aka Nora Lum, scored a nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for her role as Billi, a Chinese American New Yorker who travels to China when her family puts on a fake wedding to say their final goodbyes to her terminally ill grandmother.

The Farewell also picked up a nomination, somewhat inexplicably, for Best Foreign Language Film.

Read These Blogs

'Clean' Chinese Restaurant Closes Less Than a Year After Racism Controversy
Bye.

* * *
Nature's Candy
"To my knowledge, my mom has never purchased pre-cut mango spears or melon from the supermarket. I imagine that, to her, such things are pure American nonsense."

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Meet Simu Liu: the actor playing Marvel’s first Asian superhero Shang-chi is battling global stereotypes
The Chinese-Canadian plays a martial-arts master in 2021's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings..

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Awkwafina Is Poised for a Historic Oscar Nomination for ‘The Farewell'
Awkwafina, receiving raves for her performance in The Farewell, is poised to become the first Asian American woman ever nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award if the season plays out in her favor.

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The Partnership: Awkwafina and Zhao Shuzhen On Protecting A Shared Secret & Becoming An Onscreen Family In 'The Farewell'
Awkwafina and Zhao Shuzhen,. the duo at the heart of The Farewell, discuss their heartfelt responsibility toward the real Nai Nai, crossing a language barrier, and sacred familial ties.

* * *
Eric Nam Made It as a K-Pop Star. Now He Wants to Make It Back Home in America
Already a successful pop soloist in South Korea, singer-songwriter Eric Nam's latest album Before We Begin is the first step in shedding the label of a "K-pop artist" and positioning himself as a pop artist in the U.S. market.

Angry Reader of the Week: Dino-Ray Ramos

"I'm just trying to make the world not trash."


Photo: Kim Newmoney
Hey, everybody! It is time, once again, to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Dino-Ray Ramos.

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 84: They Call Us Parasite

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.



What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

On this episode, we welcome TV writer Liz Alper to talk about the plight of assistants in the entertainment industry and organizing #PayUpHollywood. And then we geek out about Bong Joon Ho's Parasite.

Ronny Chieng Will Destroy America

Standup special 'Asian Comedian Destroys America' premieres December 17 on Netflix.



Your destruction is imminent, America. And your doom comes at the hands of Ronny Chieng. The Daily Show correspondent and Crazy Rich Asians star -- and self-described "standup's most ruthless comedian" -- drops his new Netflix special Asian Comedian Destroys America later this month. Here's the trailer, which promises a "comedy event that will decimate American society." I, for one, welcome said destruction.

'Mulan ' trailer promises swords, sorcery and swooshy hair

Let's get down to business, the new Mulan trailer is here. Disney just released the full trailer for the upcoming live-action adaptation of the 1998 animated feature, and it promises lots of swords, sorcery and swooshy hair.

The trailer offers a bigger glimpse of film's take on the mythic Chinese woman warrior. Liu Yifei stars as Hua Mulan, the dutiful daughter who disguises herself as a male soldier to take her father's place in China's army against invading forces. As fans have figured out by now, this Mulan appears to be more of a straight-ahead adventure epic, dropping the musical numbers and zany sidekicks for battle scenes and kung fu.

We also get significant first looks at some of the major characters, including Gong Li as the sorceress Xian Lang (who appears to possess the ability to transform into a hawk), Jason Scott Lee as the villainous Bori Khan, Donnie Yen as Commander Tung, Ron Yuan as Sergeant Qiang, Jet Li as The Emperor.

Take a look:

Read These Blogs

Andrew Yang seems invisible to the mainstream media - just like most Asian Americans
Asian Americans are often invisible in American culture, and judging by the experience of presidential candidate Andrew Yang, even more so in politics.

* * *
As Supreme Court decision looms, undocumented Asians say they must speak up or risk losing DACA
Undocumented Asians are talking more about their immigration status after years of watching Latinos and other communities of color speak out.

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What happens after your story goes viral? The outpouring of support helped ailing 'Donut City' owner
A year ago, Stella and John Chhan were the subject of a viral story when Stella had a brain aneurysm. Locals bought out the donuts at their shop in Seal Beach so John could visit his wife every day. Now, she’s back behind the counter.

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‘Float’ Director Bobby Rubio on Unconscious Bias and Pixar's First Filipino American Character
Pixar story artist Bobby Rubio made his directorial debut with the animated short Float on Disney Plus -- the first Pixar work to feature a Filipino American animated character.

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Never Too Soon: A Conversation with Leland Cheuk
Leland Cheuk, author of the novel No Good Very Bad Asian, talks about comedy, identity, and whether today’s representations of diversity in the comedy and writing worlds are authentic.

* * *
Rams rookie safety Taylor Rapp wants to 'show that Asians can play'
Taylor Rapp, safety for the Los Angeles Rams, is trying to change the narrative.

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No, Simon Cowell, it's not 'time for UK-Pop'
Forget about Simon Cowell. The Korean music industry has been trying to internationalize K-Pop, recruiting talent from around the world to leverage and expand its international fan base -- and raising a lot of questions along the way.

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 83: They Call Us Thankful

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.



What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

On this special Thanksgiving-themed episode, recorded live at the Edison Theatre in Long Beach, we welcome some good friends -- actress Tess Paras (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), screenwriter Thuc Doan Nguyen (The Bitch Pack) and writer Shirley Li (The Atlantic) to talk politics, culture and the year in Asian America.

Read These Blogs

The Mandalorian: Deborah Chow Reveals the Inspiration For the Baby Yoda Rescue
The first female director of a live-action Star Wars story drew from her father's love of Hong Kong action.

* * *
Dial Up!
How the Hmong diaspora uses the world’s most boring technology to make something weird and wonderful.

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Understanding the Struggles of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
"New findings from a study of California’s diverse Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) population reveals that while little attention has been paid to the economic vulnerabilities of this population, nearly one-out-of-four (23%) of AAPI Californians report working and struggling with poverty."

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Is Andrew Yang 'reclaiming' stereotypes with Asian jokes? Experts say not so much.
"The reality is that Asian Pacific Americans are much more diverse and by playing into stereotypes without challenging them, Yang minimizes the challenges faced by many in the Asian Pacific American community."

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Chinese Roast Duck, but Make It Turkey
With juicy meat and extra-crisp skin, Thanksgiving turkeys cooked in the manner of ducks are keeping Chinatown barbecue restaurants busy across the United States.

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How a family-owned music label conquered YouTube — and PewDiePie
The Indian music label T-Series boasts 118 million YouTube subscribers and billions of views a month, de-throning the most-subscribed user PewDiePie earlier this year.

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Best Supporting Grandma? For 'The Farewell,' an Oscar Campaign Begins
Lulu Wang's indie hit, starring Awkwafina and Zhao Shuzhen, may be an awards contender, but that doesn't mean the film is easily categorized.

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Already a star in China, US fame comes to 'Farewell' actress
While actress Zhao Shuzhen, who plays the beloved NaiNai in The Farewell, was previously unknown to most American audiences, the 75-year-old is not only a veteran of stage and screen in her native China, she's also a big star.

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Brenda Song on Her New Series Dollface, the Disney Channel Years, and Growing Up
The comedic performer got candid about growing pains and heartbreak.

Wat Misaka, first nonwhite player in the NBA, dies at 95

Japanese American point guard debuted with the New York Knicks in 1947.



Wat Misaka, the pioneering Japanese American athlete who became the first person of color to play in modern professional basketball, died Wednesday in Salt Lake City. He was 95.

Wat Misaka, First Nonwhite in Modern Pro Basketball, Dies at 95

Misaka, the son of Japanese immigrants, starred for the University of Utah on teams that won two national tournament championships. In 1947, he made professional debut with the New York Knicks -- then part of the Basketball Association of America, a forerunner of the National Basketball.

Read These Blogs

Jeremy Lin Undefeated In China
Linsanity now resides in Beijing.

* * *
Bill Clinton Owes My Father an Apology
Bill Clinton took responsibility for contributing to mass incarceration. He has yet to say he's sorry for his role in mass deportation. Aarti Shahani talks about the decade-long case she fought to keep her father in the U.S.

* * *
Dear Someone: On Asian-American Writers and Letters as Storytelling
Marie Myung-Ok Lee on Asian American writers and the epistolary form.

* * *
How Hip-Hop Dance Groups Have Helped Asian Americans Find Belonging
While the art form has always been a space for community-building and resistance, its significance within Asian American youth culture can be tricky to parse.

* * *
Can the Japanese community save Little Tokyo from gentrification?
In an effort to save these businesses, the Japanese American community started the Little Tokyo Community Impact Fund to collectively buy a local building and charge below-market rents to selected tenants.

* * *
13 best Asian American children's and young adult books 2019
The list includes a retelling of Little Women, a story set amid Kuala Lumpur's 1969 riots, and an illustrated biography of Disney's first Asian American animator.

* * *
In “Watchmen," just as in real life, feelings about Vietnam remain uncertain
Easter eggs can be found in the Milk & Hanoi bakery, Lady Trieu's name, and more. But what do they all mean?

* * *
'Bojack Horseman' writer Minhal Baig's coming-of-age film from Apple TV Plus centers a Muslim teen caught between two worlds
Minhal Baig is the writer-director of Hala, a film about the daughter of Muslim Pakistani immigrants who tries to find her own path during her senior year of high school.

* * *
Star Trek's newest star, Amrit Kaur, explains how damn hard it is to get on the Enterprise
The latest episode of Short Treks centers on Amrit Kaur as newcomer Cadet Sidhu and the very rigorous test she endures to get a spot aboard the famous starship Enterprise.

* * *
Mindy Kaling and Constance Wu on 'Hustlers,' 'Late Night' and the Importance of Female Directors
Mindy Kaling and Constance Wu sat down to chat for "Variety Studio: Actors on Actors."

Take this survey on AAPI food habits. For research!

Study examines the eating habits of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.



Our friend Oliver Wang, professor of sociology at California State University Long Beach, is launching a pilot study to explore the eating habits of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and he could use your help.

Take this quick online survey: AAPI Food Habits

Oliver says the study came from a simple question: how do AAPIs eat? Specifically, he and co-author Mike Hoa Nguyen were interested in how those of us raised in the United States make decisions about what to cook at home or eat in restaurants. How often do we prioritize some kind of Asian food -- whether it’s the food linked to our family heritage or just any kind of Asian food -- when we think about what we want to eat?

"For me, that’s pretty important," Oliver says. "I live in Los Angeles's San Gabriel Valley -- practically the national capital for Asian American cuisine -- and it's easy for me to take for granted how many restaurants and markets I have access to. It certainly shapes my meal decisions, whether I'm getting a bite out to eat or I'm cooking for my family."

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 82: They Call Us The Asian American Film Canon

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.



What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

On this episode, we welcome Brian Hu, artistic director of the San Diego Asian Film Festival, to talk about the list of the 20 best Asian American films of the last 20 years he helped curate for the Los Angeles Times. We discuss the challenges and considerations of creating an Asian American film canon. Film geekery ensues.

Two dead, three injured in shooting at Southern California high school

The shooter was reportedly a classmate, described as an "Asian male wearing black clothing."



Two students are dead and at least three others were injured, two of them in critical condition, after a classmate reportedly opened fire on Thursday morning at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California.

Santa Clarita, California, high school shooting leaves multiple people injured, suspect dead

Officials said they had located the suspected shooter and that the person is "no longer a threat." The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says the suspect is in custody and is reportedly in grave condition at a local hospital from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The shooting occurred in the school's quad area. Officials say video from the scene shows the suspect pulling a semi-automatic pistol out of his backpack, shooting five students, and then shooting himself in the head.

The shooter has been identified as a 16-year-old male student at the school whose birthday is today. Earlier reports described the suspect as an "Asian male wearing black clothing."

This Faker Fit Right In With the Trump Administration

State Dept. official Mina Chang claimed to be a Harvard "alumna," among other lies.


Mina Chang's laughably fake 'Time' cover
From NBC News: A senior Trump administration official has embellished her résumé with misleading claims about her professional background -- even creating a fake Time magazine cover with her face on it -- raising questions about her qualifications to hold a top position at the State Department."

An NBC News investigation found that Mina Chang, the deputy assistant secretary in the State Department's Bureau of Conflict and Stability Operations, has inflated her educational achievements -- like claiming, falsely, to be a Harvard grad -- and exaggerated the scope of her nonprofit's work.

More here: Senior Trump official embellished résumé, had face on fake Time cover

'Float' is the first Pixar film to feature Filipino Americans

Bobby Rubio's personal animated short premieres on Disney+.



I won't lie: I stayed up late to watch The Mandalorian on Monday night, as soon as the new Disney+ streaming service went fully operational. I'm a Star Wars geek and I could wait no longer. With that out of the way -- it was great -- I want to make sure you watch the best film on the platform: the Pixar original animated short Float.

Directed by story artist Bobby Rubio, Float is the first Pixar film ever to feature Filipino American characters.

In Float, a father discovers that his is son is different from other kids in the most unusual way. To keep them both safe from judgement, Dad covers him and keeps him out of sight -- but when his son's ability becomes public, Dad must decide whether to run and hide or to accept his son as he is.

Rubio originally conceived the story as a comic... with a significant difference. The characters were white.

The Family That Sticks Together...

Your favorite family from the best damn movie of the year.



I just want to make sure everyone knows that this shirt exists, and if you're like me, and you believe that Bong Joon Ho's smash hit masterpiece Parasite is the best damn film of the year, you will order this shirt immediately. I won't say anything more about the film, except that if you haven't seen it yet, don't read anything and don't talk to anyone about it -- just go watch it and get your ass kicked. That is all.

Get the shirt at the Neon Shop.

This is how you make Alex Trebek (almost) cry on television

'Jeopardy' host gets choked up by contestant's heartfelt message of support.



You don't really expect to see a lot of emotional moments on Jeopardy! and you sure as heck don't expect to see Alex Trebek getting choked up. But that's what happened on Monday's night's airing of the perennial TV quiz show, when a contestant's heartfelt message of support had the host fighting back tears.

During the "Final Jeopardy" round, contestant Dhruv Gaur revealed his response to evening's final question: "What is we [heart] you Alex!" Not quite the correct response; just some real love for Mr. Trebek, who has been publicly fighting a battle with pancreatic cancer. Just before Gaur's message, Trebek had announced that he was undergoing another round of chemotherapy.

Realizing the message was intended for him, Trebek was visibly moved. "That's very kind of you, thank you," he replied with his voice cracking. Watch the touching moment, and I dare you not to get choked up too:

Brutal attack on Chinatown seniors caught on video

Suspects assaulted three elderly men in an attempted robbery.



In San Francisco, police are searching for suspects who were caught on video assaulting a group of elderly men in a violent attempted robbery on Saturday night.

Brutal attack on 3 men caught on camera in SF's Chinatown

Video of the attack shows a group of seniors walking near Portsmouth Square in Chinatown when they're approached by two suspects who begin throwing punches at them. One victim is hit directly in the face and falls down, appearing to be out cold.

The video was circulated widely on social media.

Read These Blogs

The Story of the Great Japanese-American Novel
John Okada's novel No-No Boy captures the injustice of incarcerating Japanese Americans during World War II -- and serves as a warning today for our own fractured society.

* * *
The Rise (and Stall) of the Boba Generation
How bubble tea became far more than just a drink to young Asian Americans.

* * *
Opinion: It's time for UC to stop using the SAT
Decades of research show that the SAT and ACT add little or nothing to the high school GPA's prediction of a student's performance in the first year of college.

* * *
In Conversation: Bao Phi and Jane Kim
Poet/autor Bao Phi sits down to chat with his longtime friend, San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim, to talk about everything from Lost, to Ali Wong, to stepping into their power as marginalized people.

* * *
Banchan, the Only Food I Like to Share
You can tell a lot about a Korean restaurant based on the banchan it offers.

* * *
How Red Canary Song Is Advocating for Migrant Sex Workers
Red Canary Song is a grassroots organization that advocates for migrant sex workers, supports migrant leadership, and fights against unjust policies.

* * *
BD Wong is taking 'The Great Leap' into directing
BD Wong, who starred in "A Great Leap" last year, is directing the play at the Pasadena Playhouse.

* * *
Conrad Ricamora Is Ready to Be a Leading Man
Why is Conrad Ricamora starring in the musical Soft Power in New York while filming How to Get Away With Murder in Los Angeles? Because he finally gets to play the hero.

Angry Reader of the Week: Arthur Dong

"I was born in the same hospital as Bruce Lee..."



Greetings, good people of the internet. It is time, once again, to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Arthur Dong.

'Fresh Off The Boat' to end after six seasons

The hour-long series finale is set to air on February 21.



It's official: Fresh Off The Boat will end this season. After six seasons, the ABC comedy -- the longest-running sitcom about an Asian American family in broadcast television history -- is coming to close next year.

Fresh Off the Boat Canceled After Six Seasons

The network reportedly informed Fresh Off The Boat's cast and crew this week that it would not be ordering further episodes, and the current season's 14th and 15th episodes would mark the end of the show's run.

Wat Misaka Throwback Jersey honors a basketball pioneer

Custom throwback jersey created by G Yamazawa.



Contrary to popular belief, Jeremy Lin was not the first player of Asian descent in the NBA. In 1947, Wat Misaka, a 5-foot-7 Japanese American point guard from Utah, suited up and played three games with the New York Knicks to become the first nonwhite player in professional basketball.

Now you know. Now check out this incredibly cool Wat Misaka Throwback replica jersey, created by acclaimed poet/emcee G Yamazawa, paying tribute to the pioneering sports figure.

Produced with the blessing of Misaka's family, this handmade, custom cut and sew throwback jersey comes in black and white inspired by Misaka's championship run at Weber College, as well as a fire red Japanese colorway. Each purchase includes a retro basketball card (including randomly inserted autograph editions) designed by Gabe Gets. 20% of profits will be donated to the Special Olympics.

Get it here.

Here are some more images:

To Kurt Suzuki: About That Hat and "Having Some Fun"

Guest Post by Joseph Shoji Lachman



Kurt Suzuki, a yonsei (4th gen. Japanese American) wore one of those disgusting white supremacist hats when visiting the White House. It was horrifying, and symbolic of larger issues of Asian Americans and adjacency to white privilege.

The question I always want to pose to these garbage Japanese Americans is, how can you support a guy whose campaign and supporters have voiced support for the incarceration of Japanese Americans and have used it as a justification for oppressing other minority groups?

Suzuki couldn't even muster an apology. He said he was just trying to "have some fun." I wonder if he could go to a migrant concentration camp, look a mother and child in the eyes while wearing that hat, and claim it's just about having some fun.

I wonder if he could look me in the eye as a fellow yonsei and say it's just about having some fun.

Read These Blogs

The Kingmaker is a movie about Imelda Marcos that snubs earlier documentary
A new documentary about Imelda Marcos blatantly ignores and erases Ramona Diaz's 2004 pioneering documentary about the former first lady of the Philippines.

* * *
The Korean Secret to Happiness and Success
With "nunchi," all you need is your eyes, your ears and a quiet mind.

* * *
Americans must search their conscience and ‘google Uyghurs'
A group of activists came to a Washington Wizards game with an important message: "Google Uyghurs."

* * *
Death, migration and the loss of culture
In Chinese culture, the transition to the afterlife is memorialized in tomb-sweeping festivals and food rituals. But what happens when years of migration cause treasured family traditions to vanish?

* * *
Why I Dropped Out Of An Ivy League College Just 3 Weeks Into Freshman Year
Jenny Lu knew deep in her gut that going to an Ivy League wasn't going to be good for her mental health.

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Translation and the Family of Things
Writer Crystal Hana Kim discovers her grandmother's literary secret.

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How to Unlearn Everything
When it comes to writing the "other," what questions are we not asking?

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When comfort food means a heaping plate of Tex-Mex
"My love of Tex-Mex is the story of my family's journey and the hardships they faced, what they lost and what they gained. It is a story that begins in a riverside village in rural Guangdong province in southern China, long before I am born."

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Dancing Past 60: ‘I Actually Forget That I Am Aging'
On this dance team at a Queens community center, being a grandma is a plus.

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This 'Queer Eye' Clip Shows the Impact of 'No Asians' in Gay Dating
Queer Eye's recent visit to Japan shows the heartbreaking results of discrimination.

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These Gen Z Americans fell in love with the sport of their immigrant parents
The Future Stars School of Cricket is a Virginia-based youth club comprised mostly of children whose parents are from South Asia.

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Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Ali Wong's Glasses—According to Ali Wong
"Glasses are like shoes for your face": The comedian shares the story behind some of her favorite frames.

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Where’s My Biopic? Actress Anna May Wong
A tribute to the pioneering, ahead-of-her-time career of actress Anna Mae Wong.

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She Invented Banana Ketchup & Saved Thousands of Lives. Why Have We Never Heard of Her?
The legendary story of María Orosa, the Philippines' greatest war hero.

Your Halloween Costumes

Submit your awesome costume photos for our annual Halloween gallery.



What are you rocking this Halloween? Show us your stuff! In what has become a fun tradition on this website, we invite readers to submit photos of your cool, funny, scary, adorable and totally-not-racist costumes for our annual Halloween gallery, just for fun. Email or tag me on social media. We can't guarantee everyone will make it into the gallery, but don't be afraid to share! The world should see and enjoy your awesome costumes. Super-cute kid costumes are particularly welcome.

Keep checking back here for updates:

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 81: They Call Us Love Boat

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.



What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

On this episode, we're talking about LOVE BOAT! We discuss the infamous Taiwanese culture and language study tour with filmmaker Valerie Soe, director of the documentary Love Boat: Taiwan, and writer Abigail Hing Wen, author of the forthcoming young adult novel Loveboat, Taipei.

Preity G Zinta and Vir Das to star in potential 'Fresh Off The Boat' spinoff

'Magic Motor Inn' will center on an Indian American family.



Plans for a Fresh Off the Boat spinoff, centering on an Indian American family, are underway. The series, tentatively titled Magic Motor Inn, will likely be led by Bollywood star Preity Zinta and actor/comedian Vir Das, who are set to guest star on an upcoming episode of Fresh Off the Boat.

'Fresh Off the Boat' Casts Vir Das and Preity G Zinta as Stars of Potential Spinoff

Written by Fresh Off the Boat writer-producer Rachna Fruchbom, the episode centers around an Indian family whose daughter attends school with Eddie. Das and Zinta will star as the girl's parents. The episode would reportedly serve as the basis for the proposed spinoff, which would go through the regular pilot process.

John Cho inspects a really gross bathtub in 'The Grudge'

Watch the trailer for the new remake of the Japanese horror classic.



Wait, a Hollywood remake of a remake of an Asian horror movie... starring an actual Asian person? Actually starring John Cho, actually. In this trailer for the upcoming new take on The Grudge, we see Cho as a real estate agent named Peter Spencer arriving at a spooky house and inspecting a really yucky bathtub. Later, we see poor Peter taking a shower... and more yucky things happen. Dude needs some new shampoo.

Take a look:

This is the Most Insanely Detailed Bruce Lee Statue

80th Anniversary Bruce Lee Tribute Statue from Blitzway



Holy crap. Next year would have been Bruce Lee's 80th birthday. It's hard to imagine the famed martial artist as anything but a young man, but here's an awesome tribute that immortalizes Lee in his finest form.

This highly detailed, 1/4 scale 80th anniversary Bruce Lee Tribute Statue from Blitzway features a mixture of polystone, PVC, and fabric type elements that make this one of the realest looking Bruce figures in your collection. The statue stands about 21.5 inches tall, standing on a stylized base and a flag diorama.

But this one's only for the true Bruce fans -- it'll set you back $499. Pre-order it here.

Here are some more images:

Read These Blogs

Playwright David Henry Hwang on Flipping a Flawed Musical on Its Head in Soft Power
Soft Power, playwright David Henry Hwang's newest musical running through November 17 at New York City's Public Theater, is his attempt to confront the contradictions of The King and I and bring it into a new era.

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Yoshihiro Hattori: The door knock that killed a Japanese teenager in US
In October 1992, Yoshihiro Hattori knocked on the wrong door.

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Comedians have to walk a tightrope on issues of race. That will make the art form better.
"I appreciate the struggle of wanting to push boundaries while knowing I'm limited in what I can say. But it means we are finally being seen."

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Asian hair, and what we talk about in L.A. barbershops
"Haircuts became another way for me to learn about the city, affording the rare opportunity to have an intimate, low-stakes conversation with a stranger. I always ask for the same haircut, and it always comes out different depending on where I am."

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A Leader of Farmworkers, and Filipinos' Place in American History
Before she passed away in 2018, historian Dawn Bohulano Mabalon published a children's book telling the life of labor organizer, Larry Itliong.

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One Family Built Forever 21, and Fueled Its Collapse
How Do Wan Chang and his two daughters built Forever 21, which just went bankrupt last month.

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Frenzied Woman
Cinelle Barnes considers how the chaos and discipline of dance kept the disparate parts of her being stitched together.

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I, Too, Would Leave My Fiancé for Dev Patel
Dev Patel, as you can see, is extremely hot.

Angry Reader of the Week: Ally Vega

"...swimming in that divine feminine essence and letting it pour out to everyone around me."



Hey, everybody! Gather 'round, because it is time once again to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Ally Vega.